Canada's Performance Report 2007-08: The Government of Canada's Contribution

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3 Social Affairs

Context

The Government of Canada is committed to building a stronger, more cooperative federation in which all levels of government work together to promote Canada's core values: linguistic duality; ethnic diversity; art, heritage, and culture; and active citizenship. The federal government provides substantial support for public health and plays a critical role in making Canadians among the healthiest people in the world through modern and effective regulatory systems, innovative partnerships, and leadership in health system renewal. The government is also committed to strengthening the justice system, reinforcing Canada's capacity to prevent and combat crime. Other social affairs initiatives include policies and programs that promote sport and physical activity, protect disadvantaged groups, and foster integration and social inclusion.

The Government of Canada's expenditures for Social Affairs

In the 2007–08 fiscal year, 55 federal organizations spent $45.9 billion in social affairs. Two critical areas of federal spending—health and security—represent 80 per cent of total expenditures under the Social Affairs spending area.

Figure 3.1 — Breakdown of actual spending in Social Affairs ($45.9 billion) by outcome area for fiscal year 2007–08

Figure 3.1 - Text version

The main federal organizations investing in Canadian social affairs in 2007–08 were as follows:

• Health Canada—$4.3 billion
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Canadian Polar Commission—$4.2 billion
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police—$2.2 billion
• Correctional Service Canada—$2.0 billion
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation—$1.9 billion
• Veterans Affairs Canada—$1.1 billion
• The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation—$1.1 billion

Spending was higher than planned for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada because of negotiation, settlement, and implementation of specific and comprehensive claims. Settlements paid in 2007–08 exceeded the planned spending as a result of a very large settlement with the James Bay Cree.

Health Canada's expenditure in 2007–08 was $1 billion more than originally planned, as a result of the settlement of compensation payments to individuals infected with the Hepatitis C virus through the Canadian blood supply before 1986 and after 1990.

The difference of $101 million between planned and actual spending for Citizenship and Immigration Canada is mostly due to unused funding for the Canada–Ontario Immigration Agreement and other settlement programs and services. The Department has been working with provinces and territories, making special efforts in Ontario, and the settlement sector to develop additional transparent and accountable ways to increase capacity to deliver these programs and improve outcomes for newcomers.

Budgets have also increased to bolster the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's capacity to prevent money laundering (activities like detecting and reporting suspicious transactions, monitoring cross-border movement of large amounts of currency and monetary instruments) and the financing of terrorist activities. Adjustments in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's planned and actual spending are largely due to funding for additional positions within the organization and law enforcement priorities.

Healthy Canadians

Background

Under the healthy Canadians outcome area, the Government of Canada aims to help Canadians maintain and improve their health through a wide range of health-related program activities, which include reducing health and environmental risks from products and substances, ensuring access to safe and effective health and food products and information for healthy choices, improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities between First Nations and Inuit peoples and other Canadians, acting as a catalyst in the renewal of the health care system, strengthening public health capacity, and supporting critical health research and implementation of findings.

Canada's health system operates through collaboration of all levels of government and a variety of stakeholders and communities across the country. With the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Health Transfer, the provinces and territories assume responsibility for health care. The federal government acts as a catalyst in health system innovation and oversees the principles set out in the Canada Health Act, which ensures all Canadians have access to necessary medical services regardless of their ability to pay.

The Government of Canada's expenditures in the outcome area of healthy Canadians

The 11 federal organizations listed below spent $28 billion in the outcome area of healthy Canadians in 2007–08 through their respective strategic outcomes and program activities:

• Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• Department of Finance Canada
• Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission Canada
• Health Canada
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Canadian Polar Commission
• Patented Medicine Prices Review Board
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Veterans Affairs Canada

The Canada Health Transfer, which is the primary federal transfer to provinces and territories in support of health care, reached $21.5 billion in 2007–08, representing 77 per cent of spending in the healthy Canadians outcome area.

Of the remaining 23 per cent of spending, the largest expenditures were for two core activities: health for First Nations and Inuit peoples (Health Canada, $2.2 billion) and health benefits, long-term care, and the Veterans Independence Program (Veterans Affairs Canada, $1.1 billion).

Excluding the Canada Health Transfer, Health Canada is the largest contributor to this outcome area. Spending on First Nations and Inuit health initiatives constituted approximately 67 per cent of Health Canada's total expenditure in 2007–08, excluding the $1 billion spent in one-time compensation payments made to individuals infected with Hepatitis C through the Canadian blood supply. Of these initiatives, the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program was the largest, providing approximately 855,000 eligible First Nations and Inuit with necessary health-related goods and services not provided through private or provincial and territorial health insurance plans. This reflects the government's commitment to ensuring high-quality health care for First Nations and Inuit peoples.

Health Canada also spent $1.1 billion to carry out a diverse array of program activities, which included ensuring food and consumer safety, managing environmental health risks, fostering health system innovation, combatting abuse of illicit drugs and substances, reducing tobacco consumption, and supporting nation-wide strategies for managing such health issues as cancer and mental health. The Department continued to work closely with international partners to strengthen the health system in Canada and in other countries, including support for pilot projects and initiatives that are beneficial to the country and beyond.

The second largest contributor to health-related programs and services is Veterans Affairs Canada. Its 2007–08 expenditures of $1.1 billion went to treatment and other related health benefits, long-term care, and the Veterans Independence Program ($303 million). The Veterans Independence Program is designed to enhance the quality of life of veterans, promote independence, and assist in keeping them at home and in their own communities by providing a continuum of care. The program provides services such as housekeeping and grounds maintenance, ambulatory health care, transportation, home adaptations, and intermediate nursing home care to over 103,000 Canadian veterans and primary caregivers. Veterans Affairs Canada also supports 10,600 veterans in long-term care at Ste. Anne's Hospital in Montreal and in communities across the country.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is the third largest federal contributor to the healthy Canadians outcome area, with spending of $607 million. Through its programs and initiatives, the Agency takes a lead role in the promotion of health and the prevention of disease and injury and provides a focal point for federal leadership and accountability in managing public health emergencies. It serves as a central point for sharing Canada's health-related expertise with the rest of the world and applying international research and development to Canada's public health programs, strengthens intergovernmental collaboration on public health, and facilitates national approaches to public health policy and planning.

In 2007–08, $240 million, or approximately 40 per cent of Public Health Agency of Canada spending, supported disease prevention. For example, to offset the enormous burden of disease and illness on Canada's health care system, the federal government committed $300 million in Budget 2007 to assist provinces and territories with the cost of immunization against human papillomavirus (HPV), and the Agency contributed to the development of scientific and programmatic recommendations. Long-term results of this and other immunization and disease prevention initiatives include reduced illness and lessened pressure on the health care system.

About 20 per cent of the Public Health Agency of Canada's resources are directed at preparedness for public health emergencies, and the Agency is the federal lead in the prevention and control of pandemic influenza. Through the Agency's work, Canada is better positioned to protect its citizens from both health-related and economic harm arising out of potential disease outbreaks.

Figure 3.2—Distribution of actual spending by federal organization in healthy Canadians, 2007–08

Figure 3.2 - Text version

The Government of Canada's contribution to healthy Canadians

Safer health, food, and consumer products for Canadians

The Government of Canada is modernizing Canada's regulatory framework and programming for health, food, and consumer products to strengthen protection of Canadians' health and safety in light of today's complex, expanding global marketplace. The 2007 Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan, with an investment of $490 million over five years, focusses on active prevention, targeted oversight, and rapid response.

The federal government will provide better product information to consumers and guidance to industries to prevent harm before it arises. It will enhance monitoring in targeted areas of high risk throughout a product's life cycle to ensure safety. It will also introduce new regulatory authorities that enable faster action to protect the public when a problem occurs, including pulling unsafe consumer and health products from store shelves.

Not only will these new measures and systems make Canadians safer, but they will also ease industry's burden, thereby fostering innovation, stimulating the economy, and allowing Canadians to benefit from safe products earlier.

Enhanced protection from health threats in the environment

The Chemicals Management Plan has positioned Canada as a global leader in the safe management of chemical substances and products. Under this $300 million plan, the Government of Canada is reassessing chemicals introduced to the Canadian marketplace and action is being taken to manage the risks associated with substances confirmed to be harmful to human health or the environment, as well as another 193 chemicals deemed to be potentially harmful.

The federal government has also advanced the Clean Air Agenda, which includes assessment of health risks from sources such as radon, fuels, and consumer products. The new Air Quality Health Index initiative will provide a daily measure of air quality, enabling Canadians to make informed decisions about their exposure to air pollution and its potentially harmful effects.

Improving the health of First Nations and Inuit communities

The Government of Canada continued to provide primary care and community and home care to hundreds of First Nations and Inuit communities across the country, many in remote areas. Programs focussed on enhancing maternal and child health, mental wellness, suicide prevention, chronic disease and injury prevention, communicable disease readiness, and environmental health. In addition, 20 pilot projects were launched to explore ways to reduce patient wait times for prenatal and diabetes care.

The Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, and the First Nations Leadership Council signed Canada's first Tripartite First Nations Health Plan in 2007. The plan commits all parties to work together to create a new governance structure that will enhance First Nations involvement in the delivery of health services and promote better integration and coordination of federally and provincially funded health services.

Investing in patient wait times and mental health

Facilitated by more than $600 million in funding from the Government of Canada in 2007, all provincial and territorial governments agreed to establish a Patient Wait Times Guarantee. Through an investment of $30 million over three years, the federal government supported ten pilot projects in eight provinces and territories to test and evaluate innovative approaches to establishing wait time guarantees and options for alternate care when time frames have been exceeded. These projects are advancing best practices for the reduction and better management of wait times.

Strategies against the use of illicit drugs

The National Anti-Drug Strategy announced in 2007, with $300 million in funding over five years, is focussed on preventing illicit drug use, treating Canadians with illicit drug dependencies, and combatting the production and distribution of illicit drugs. It has supported communities and organizations across the country with implementation of initiatives that address illicit drug use and the underlying factors contributing to their use, especially among vulnerable populations such as youth and Aboriginal people.

World-class health-related research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Government of Canada's premier agency for health research with a base budget of over $780 million, provides leadership and support to over 11,000 researchers and trainees throughout Canada. In 2007, the Agency provided funding to 89 research institutions and had approximately 130 partners from the voluntary sector. Budget 2007 contained a number of measures to support health research, including the creation of the $350-million Centres of Excellence in Commercialization and Research program, funding of $30 million to the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation, and new investments in existing federal mechanisms, such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Genome Canada, and the Indirect Costs program.

Other direct federal support for specific research initiatives included the Spinal Cord Injury Translational Research Network, the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative, and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Corporation, which has brought together more than 700 cancer survivors and experts. It is predicted that this bringing together of cancer survivors and experts in research will pre-empt a million cases of cancer and prevent thousands of cancer deaths in Canada. In 2007–08, the federal government supported a national HPV vaccination program, a proactive action against cancer of the cervix, the second most common cancer in Canadian women.

Performance context

To set its programs, expenditures, and performance in context, the Government of Canada is tracking key measures of long-term progress in the outcome area of healthy Canadians.

Performance Context - in the outcome area of healthy Canadians.

Trend	Indicator	Overview
▲	Life expectancy	In 2005, Canadian life expectancy at birth was 80.4 years—78.0 years for men and 82.7 years for women.
▲	Self-rated health status	In 2005, 22% of Canadians reported excellent health, 38% reported very good health, 29% reported good health, and 11% reported fair or poor health.
—	Healthy lifestyles	In 2005, 27% of Canadians were considered active, 25% were considered moderately active, and 47% were considered inactive.
—	Wait times	In 2005, the median wait time was about four weeks for specialist visits and non-emergency surgery and three weeks for diagnostic tests. Nationally, median wait times remained stable from 2003 to 2005, but there were differences at the provincial level.
—	Patient satisfaction	In 2005, 85% of Canadians who received health care services were very or somewhat satisfied with the services they received. This percentage remained stable between 2000 and 2005.

A Safe and Secure Canada

Background

Though most of the activities to make Canada safe and secure were focussed on crime prevention and investigation, law enforcement, national security, and public safety, expenditures in this outcome area also went to housing, parks, immigration, transportation, and emergency preparedness.

Many federal initiatives are designed to help Canada prepare for and defend against potential crises and emergencies such as terrorism, security threats, and natural disasters. Occasionally, a domestic crisis occurs that is beyond the means of local authorities. In such cases, the Government of Canada can call on the Canadian Forces to deploy the best military assets to meet any emergency need, anywhere in the country.

The Government of Canada's expenditures in the outcome area of a safe and secure Canada

The following 21 federal organizations spent $9 billion in the outcome area of a safe and secure Canada in 2007–08 through their respective strategic outcomes and program activities:

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
• Canadian Space Agency
• Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Correctional Service Canada
• Department of Justice Canada
• Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
• Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada
• National Capital Commission
• National Parole Board
• Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada
• Office of the Correctional Investigator
• Parks Canada
• Public Prosecution Service of Canada
• Public Safety Canada
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Transport Canada
• Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada
• Transportation Safety Board of Canada

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police portfolio is the largest contributor to the safe and secure Canada outcome area. The organization's Federal and International Operations alone spent $651 million in 2007–08 on national and international initiatives involving financial crime, drugs and organized crime, border integrity, and international policing. The organization's Community, Contract and Aboriginal Policing program provides front line policing services to provinces and territories, municipalities, and First Nations communities, at a cost of $966 million.

Preparing offenders for a safe transition into the community remains a major priority for Correctional Service Canada. In 2007–08, Correctional Service Canada spent $508 million on rehabilitation and case management to assist in safe reintegration of offenders into communities as well as $1.5 billion on care and custody activities to ensure safety and security for staff and offenders in federal correctional facilities.

In 2007, through approximately $1.7 billion in budgetary appropriations, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation assisted some 626,000 lower-income households access affordable and suitable housing. Funds were also invested in home repair and improvement programs to increase the number, quality, and safety of homes for Canadians in need, including emergency shelter and home adaptation for seniors. The First Nations Market Housing Fund, an initiative to support building, buying, or renovating homes located on-reserve, will make home ownership a reality for more First Nations people. By providing a partial financial guarantee for loans made to First Nations people, it is estimated that this initiative could provide for up to 25,000 new homes over 10 years.

Figure 3.3—Distribution of actual spending by federal organization in a safe and secure Canada, 2007–08

Figure 3.3 - Text version

The Government of Canada's contribution to a safe and secure Canada

Greater public safety

As part of the Government of Canada's commitment to protecting Canadian families and communities, in 2007 an independent review panel (Report: A Roadmap to Strengthening Public Safety) established future directions and operations for Correctional Service Canada, better positioning the Department's capacity to offer greater public safety to Canadians. As a result of the review, the federal government allocated additional funds to support a robust transformation agenda to ensure that Correctional Service Canada is in a better position to improve results in institutions and in the community for offender responsibility and accountability, elimination of drugs from prisons, offender employment and skills development, modernization of physical infrastructure, and elimination of statutory release and movement toward earned parole.

Defending Canada and strengthening the security of Canadians

Committed to addressing the security priorities of the country, the Government of Canada designed Transit-Secure, an $80-million program that helps Transport Canada improve security for passenger rail, public transit, and ferry operations.

The Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Team of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police continues to be responsible for investigations of organized crime groups and of the production and dissemination of counterfeit currency. By investing in a National Counterfeit Enforcement Strategy, the Government of Canada continues to demonstrate its commitment to the safety of the nation and its communities through support of proven approaches that safeguard Canada's economic integrity by combatting money laundering and terrorist financing.

The federal government contributes to heightening maritime security operations through its support of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard's longstanding presence of ice-breakers in the Arctic, which underscores Canada's national sovereignty and helps to keep waterways open, safe, and clean.

The Canadian Forces have also increased their presence and capability in the Arctic. As part of the Canada First Defence Strategy, the government announced more than $7 billion in spending for Canadian Forces initiatives in the Arctic, which include Arctic and offshore patrol ships, a deepwater berthing and refuelling facility in Nanisivik, an increase in the number and capabilities of the Canadian Rangers, and the creation of an Arctic training centre in Resolute Bay.

Strengthening the national legal framework for tackling crime

The administration of justice in Canada is an area of shared jurisdiction between the federal and provincial and territorial governments. The Department of Justice Canada is responsible for developing and maintaining the national legal framework, while the provinces and territories are responsible for the day-to-day administration of justice. During 2007–08, the Department of Justice Canada provided support to the government in delivering upon its legislative agenda for tackling crime, which included legislation on conditional sentencing and the age of protection as well as mandatory minimum penalties for gun crimes and for bail provisions for offences involving firearms and drug- and alcohol-impaired driving, all of which received Royal Assent.

The Department also provided contributions amounting to $177 million to the provinces and territories for youth justice services in support of the day-to-day administration of justice related to the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Near the end of 2007–08, the Department began a comprehensive review of the Act to identify issues and gaps.

Prosecuting criminal offences under federal law

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada contributes greatly to ensuring a safe and secure Canada. Created on December 12, 2006, with the coming into force of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, Part 3 of the Federal Accountability Act, it replaced the former Federal Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice Canada. In 2007–08, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada handled close to 68,000 prosecution files involving offences related to drugs, federal regulations, organized crime, tax law, money laundering, proceeds from crime, and terrorism. The organization also provides legal advice and assistance on a regular basis to police forces and other agencies at the investigation stage, particularly in relation to complex and high-risk cases.

In Canada's three territories, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada prosecutes all offences under the Criminal Code and all other offences under federal legislation. In 2007–08, the organization prosecuted 8,171 files in the territories, of which 7,303 involved Criminal Code offences.

Performance context

To set its programs, expenditures, and performance in context, the Government of Canada is tracking key measures of long-term progress in the outcome area of a safe and secure Canada.

Performance Context - in the outcome area of a safe and secure Canada.

Trend	Indicator	Overview
—	Safety	Canada's national crime rate, based on incidents reported to the police, hit its lowest point in over 25 years in 2006. The crime rate dropped 3% in 2006, mainly due to declines in non-violent crimes such as break-ins, thefts, and counterfeiting. The national crime rate has decreased by about 30% since peaking in 1991. Between 2005 and 2006, however, other serious crimes, such as attempted murder, assaults, and robbery, increased.
▲	Housing	In 1996, 16.7% of households in Canada's census metropolitan areas (CMA) and 15.6% of all Canadian households were labelled as being in core-housing need. In 2001, the proportion had dropped to 14.7% among CMAs and 13.7% for all Canadian households.

A Diverse Society that Promotes Linguistic Duality and Social Inclusion

Background

This outcome area relates to the promotion of cross-cultural understanding and of the advantages of a culturally diverse, literate, integrated, and inclusive society. It includes initiatives related to human rights, multiculturalism, Aboriginal governance, Canada's two official languages, privacy protection, and immigration.

The Government of Canada's expenditures in the outcome area of a diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion

The 12 federal organizations listed below spent $5.9 billion in the outcome area of a diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion in 2007–08 through their respective strategic outcomes and program activities:

• Canadian Heritage
• Canadian Human Rights Commission
• Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada
• Department of Finance Canada
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Canadian Polar Commission
• Indian Specific Claims Commission
• Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
• Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
• Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners
• Public Prosecution Service of Canada
• Status of Women Canada

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and the Canadian Polar Commission spent over $4 billion on activities to strengthen the well-being of First Nations and Inuit peoples and Northerners, specifically in areas related to social and educational development. The $1.7 billion spent on education ranged from elementary to post-secondary.

Of the $759 million spent by Canadian Heritage in 2007–08, $592.1 million was used to promote intercultural understanding, community development, and capacity building and to engage Canadians in community and civic life. This included $207 million for youth participation initiatives, support to ethnocultural communities, and support to sport communities. It also included expenditures of $247.9 million for advancing the cultural vitality of Canada's official-language minority communities and Aboriginal communities. The Government of Canada also continued to support the Aboriginal Languages Initiative with committed funding until 2013–14, which has helped with promotion, revitalization, and preservation of Aboriginal languages.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the third largest spender in this area with a $741 million investment, supported Canada's settlement, integration, and citizenship programs and policies. The Department assists newcomers with settlement and eventual integration into Canadian society as well as the acquisition of Canadian citizenship, which contribute to Canada's economic, social, and cultural development. For example, in its first year of operation, the Foreign Credentials Referral Office offered information, path finding, and referral services on foreign credential recognition processes and the Canadian labour market to close to 20,000 internationally trained individuals.

Figure 3.4—Distribution of actual spending by federal organization in a diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion, 2007–08

Figure 3.4 - Text version

The Government of Canada's contribution to a diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion

Strengthening linguistic duality

The Government of Canada is working to strengthen the country's linguistic duality by supporting French- and English-language minority communities, taking concrete steps to provide Canadians with services in both languages, and giving all young Canadians the opportunity to learn their second official language. The Government of Canada is strengthening Canada's linguistic duality for the benefit of Canadians through Budget 2007's earmarking of an additional $30 million for 2008–09 and 2009–10 to support future initiatives and its investment of $1.1 billion over five years in the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008–2013. This unprecedented investment will encourage linguistic duality among Canadians and offer support to official-language minority communities in five priority areas: health, justice, immigration, economic development, and arts and culture.

Moreover, the Roadmap aims to address the government's linguistic priorities through action in the following areas: emphasizing the value of linguistic duality among all Canadians, building the future by investing in young people, improving access to services for official-language minority communities, capitalizing on economic benefits, and ensuring efficient governance to better serve Canadians.

Supporting First Nations women and children on-reserve

Delivering on a key commitment to support First Nations women and children on-reserve, the Government of Canada announced new investments of $55.6 million for the Family Violence Prevention Program. Of these new investments announced in June 2007, $2.2 million was allocated for the construction of up to five new shelters through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Shelter Enhancement Program and $53.4 million will go toward increased operational funds for the existing network of 35 on-reserve shelters as well as the new shelters. The shelters serve approximately 265 First Nations communities. First Nations shelters provide a set of core services to ensure women and children are away from situations of danger and receive appropriate follow-up. Each year, approximately 1,900 women and 2,300 children access those services. Approximately $7 million is allocated to community-based projects, which are aimed at reducing family violence as well as increasing public awareness. Last year, there were approximately 350 such projects.

Preservation of individual rights and the Canadian Human Rights Act

The Government of Canada amended the Canadian Human Rights Act, closing a legislative gap that left many First Nations people without full protection under the Act for 30 years. This is a significant step forward in fulfilling the federal government's commitment to the preservation of individual rights for everyone, including First Nations people governed by the Indian Act.

Education, training, and entrepreneurship

Dedicated to supporting education for First Nations people, $70 million was invested in community and provincial education agreements and more than $200 million in education facility projects across the country. Furthermore, the Urban Aboriginal Strategy, which extends job training and entrepreneurship to Aboriginal people living in urban areas, has been renewed with a five-year investment of $68.5 million.

Independent First Nations claims resolution tribunal

The Government of Canada has created a new independent tribunal for the resolution of First Nations claims, demonstrating its full commitment to expediting and resolving outstanding specific claims. While over several hundred specific claims have been settled to date, the independent—and equitable—tribunal will provide a fair, fast, and better managed resolution process for specific claims and grievance claims.

Advancing equality of women

In 2007, the Government of Canada announced $20 million of funding over two years ($10 million per year and ongoing) for the Women's Community Fund and the Women's Partnership Fund to facilitate interdepartmental and provincial joint projects that support, for example, improved economic status for women and combatting violence against women and girls. In 2007–08, 14 major outreach, mentoring, and training projects took place, reaching over 21,068 women through the partnership of federal departments, other levels of government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. In 2007–08, 167 projects directly affecting 86,901 women across Canada were funded by the Women's Community Fund.

Performance context

To set its programs, expenditures, and performance in context, the Government of Canada is tracking key measures of long-term progress in the outcome area of a diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion.

Performance Context - in the outcome area of a diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion.

Trend	Indicator	Overview
—	Attitudes toward diversity	Public opinion polls indicate that Canadians' attitudes toward diversity appear to be mixed. Of the Canadians who believed they were more tolerant of ethnic groups, personal tolerance of others increased slightly to 29% in 2004, up from 23% in 1991. Support for affirmative action declined from 44% in 1985 to 28% in 2004.
▲	Attitudes toward linguistic quality	In 2006, 72% of Canadians said they were personally in favour of bilingualism for all of Canada, a 16% increase since 2003 (56%). Moreover, 68.7% of Canadians agree that having French and English spoken in Canada enhances employment and business opportunities for all Canadians.
—	Volunteerism	In 2004, 45% of Canadians aged 15 and over volunteered some time to charitable and non-profit organizations.
▲	Political participation	After declining steadily over the past decade, voter participation in general elections improved in 2006. The voter turnout at the 2006 federal general election reached 65%, up from 61% in 2004, the lowest rate in modern Canadian history.

A Vibrant Canadian Culture and Heritage

Background

Canada's vibrant culture and heritage unites its people and is reflected in its people, as well as in its history, art, museums, archives, libraries, civic celebrations, sport, and cultural industries (radio, television, cinema, interactive digital media, communications).

The Government of Canada's expenditures in the outcome area of a vibrant canadian culture and heritage

The following 20 federal organizations spent close to $3 billion in the outcome area of a vibrant Canadian culture and heritage in 2007–08 through their respective strategic outcomes and program activities:

• Canada Council for the Arts
• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
• Canadian Heritage
• Canadian Museum of Civilization
• Canadian Museum of Nature
• Canadian Museum of Science and Technology
• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
• Canadian Space Agency
• Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
• Library and Archives Canada
• Library of Parliament
• National Arts Centre Corporation
• National Battlefields Commission
• National Capital Commission
• National Film Board
• National Gallery of Canada
• Old Port of Montreal Corporation Inc.
• Parks Canada
• Telefilm Canada
• Veterans Affairs Canada

Canadian Heritage and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) are Canada's foremost cultural institutions and the largest contributors to this outcome area. The CBC's expenditures of $1.1 million went to providing Canadians with a national public broadcasting service, and Canadian Heritage's expenditures of $632 million went to preserving and sharing Canada's culture, which together represent more than 58 per cent of total culture and heritage spending.

Of the $632 million spent by Canadian Heritage, over $342 million created opportunities for Canadians to express their culture and much of the Department's spending involved Canadian content initiatives. Approximately $245 million was spent to support the sharing and blending of ideas and cultures and the preservation of artistic communities.

Of the $340 million spent by Parks Canada, $287 million was spent to enhance the experience of visitors to Canada's national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas. Parks Canada has received more than 22 million Canadian and international visitors. The Agency manages a full range of visitor programs and services, which include pre-trip and on-site planning information, reception, orientation, and interpretation, hiking trails and campgrounds, recreation and safety, post-visit follow-up, and infrastructure.

Figure 3.5—Distribution of actual spending by federal organization in a vibrant Canadian culture and heritage, 2007–08

Figure 3.5 - Text version

The Government of Canada's contribution to a vibrant canadian culture and heritage

Investments in arts and heritage

In 2007, a new investment of $30 million was earmarked for community events celebrating heritage, arts, and culture through dance, music, drama, and re-enactments of local historical events. This investment complements existing Canadian Heritage arts and heritage programs, which currently reach into some 450 Canadian communities to help strengthen their social, cultural, and economic fabric.

The 50th anniversary of the Canada Council for the Arts

The Canada Council for the Arts, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2007, is one of Canada's major institutions promoting Canada's dynamic arts sector through grants to individual artists and arts organizations in some 650 communities across Canada. In Budget 2007, the federal government made a permanent increase of $30 million to the Canada Council's funding.

Sport

The Government of Canada continues to provide more tools and resources for Canadians to get involved in sport as a means for living a healthy lifestyle. In 2007–08, Canadian Heritage's Sport Canada program received $1.5 million of funding over two years to encourage Canadian youth to participate in sport.

Honouring veterans

On April 9, 2007, 20,000 people (including 8,000 Canadians of whom 5,000 were youth) gathered in France to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. During the ceremony, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II dedicated the newly restored Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Other notables in attendance included the Canadian and French prime ministers. Thousands also attended ceremonies in Canada. The ceremonies paid homage to the sacrifices and recognized the achievements of all those who participated in the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917, highlighting the importance of passing the torch of remembrance to the youth of today. The Memorial, one of the thirteen Canadian First World War monuments that underwent restorative work, received approximately 750,000 visitors in 2007–08. Visitors to all thirteen monuments totalled 1 million, an overall 34 per cent increase from the previous year.

Performance context

To set its programs, expenditures, and performance in context, the Government of Canada is tracking key measures of long-term progress in the outcome area of a vibrant Canadian culture and heritage.

Performance Context - in the outcome area of a vibrant Canadian culture and heritage.

Trend	Indicator	Overview
▲	Participation in cultural and heritage activities	From 1998 to 2005, cultural participation among the Canadian population aged 15 and over was on the rise in almost all areas. For instance, activities professional concert and performance attendance increased from 35% to 41%, while gallery and museum visits grew from 22% to 26%. The movie-going rate of 60% in 2005, however, remained almost identical to the 1998 rate of 59%.

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